TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY 16, 2023
COMMITTEE ON ENGINEERING
Mr. Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Title
Authority to make payment to the United States Army Corps of Engineers for the non-federal sponsor’s share of the costs associated with the Upper Des Plaines River and Tributaries Study, in an amount of $49,999.00, Account 501-50000-645630 (As Revised)
Body
Dear Sir:
Authority is requested to make payment to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) for the Limited Reevaluation of the Upper Des Plaines River and Tributaries Study (Study), in an amount of $49,999.00.
In 2014, the District entered into an amended Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) and made an initial payment of $290,854.47 for the non-federal sponsor’s share of completing the Study. The Corps released their final report for the Study in 2015 which included recommendations for flood mitigation projects in the Cook County portion of the Upper Des Plaines River and Tributaries watershed. While the collective projects were found to be cost effective, the benefit to cost ratio was not sufficient to attract Federal funding. In 2019, the USACE initiated a limited reevaluation of the benefits and costs associated with the flood mitigation recommendations, to reflect new rainfall data and perform updates to the modeling to develop an overall economic update, and the District provided $99,998.00 as the non-federal sponsor’s share of the reevaluation efforts. In a letter to the District dated January 23, 2023, the Corps requested an additional $49,499.00 for completing this work. It is anticipated that the resulting limited reevaluation report will likely recommend construction of levees and stormwater reservoir projects in areas along the Des Plaines River that have been historically prone to repetitive flooding.
Based on the foregoing, it is respectfully requested that the Board of Commissioners authorize and approve payment to the Corps, in an amount of $49,999.00, via electronic funds transfer.
Funds are available in Account 501-50000-645630.
Requested, Catherine A. O’Connor, Director of Engineering, KMF:JK
Recommended, Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for February 16, 2023